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McDonald’s have admitted the new paper straws cannot be recycled (Picture: @joegmez/Getty)

McDonald’s has been accused of pulling a ‘silly stunt’ after leaked memos revealed their new ‘eco friendly’ paper straws are not recyclable.

They rolled out the new straws to all 1,361 branches in the UK to try and reduce damage to the environment.

The paper straws have had a rough start with many claiming they ruin drinks and crumble when they use them to drink milkshakes.

A leaked memo admitted the new version would be thrown away and burned – the plastic straws were recyclable.

The memo said: ‘Paper straws are not yet recyclable and should be disposed of in general waste until further notice.’

The plastic straws were taken out of use in April of this year (Picture: PA)

McDonald’s said the new straws’ ‘thickness makes it difficult for them to be processed by our waste solution providers’ (Picture: Getty)

A source told The Sun: ‘When McDonald’s introduced paper straws it was getting pats on the back for being environmentally responsible.

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‘But it seems like it was a stunt to appease green campaigners because the things go straight in the rubbish. It’s ridiculously stupid.’

After the paper straws were released in April a customer tweeted: ‘With the paper straws they are fine for coke but the other day I had a milkshake and I struggled so so much that I ended up getting one of my own plastic straws at home.’

One foodie was so outraged they started a petition to bring back the plastic ones.

In the months since its creation, more than 50,000 people have added their signature.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: ‘We strengthened our paper straws so, while the materials are recyclable, their thickness makes it difficult for them to be processed by our waste solution providers.

‘We’re working with them to find a solution so putting paper straws in general waste is therefore temporary.’